Magneto-optic surface plasmon resonance of Au/IrMn/Co/Au exchange biased layer systems

The magneto-optic surface plasmon resonance in transverse geometry of glass/Au/IrMn/Co/Au/dielectric exchange biased thin film systems has been studied as a function of the Au-cap layer thickness for the dielectric air and water. The results show that it is possible to achieve either an optimum steepness of the reflectivity as compared to a glass/Au/dielectric layer system or to maximize the magneto-optic activity. As the Au-cap layer thickness is increased, the magneto-optic activity is reduced whereas the steepness of the reflectivity in the range of the resonance is raised. The width of the reflectivity curves and the magneto-optic signals is broadened for thin Au-capping layers. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.